Bring on the improvements, but keep the weirdness. That seems to be the strategy for the Suzuki SX4.
The company’s compact offering is interesting, no doubt. Available in hatchback and sedan configurations, the SX4 tries to please everybody, but especially those who can’t stand conformity.
It’s obvious that the SX4 is an oddball, with its high stance, huge greenhouse and windowed A-pillars. But all these traits don’t prevent the Suzuki from looking smart, confident and cheery.
Step inside and you’ll notice that there is a massive amount of headroom. In addition, you sit high and get a good view of the road ahead. The driving position isn’t perfect, though, as the steering wheel doesn’t telescope, which would perfectly match the straight-up seating configuration.
Out back, there seems to be a scant amount of foot space, but again, sitting straight means you don’t need as much room for your legs, and there is space under the front seats for your footsies. Okay, it’s still a little tight.
The SX4’s main shortcoming is the wide A-pillars. Despite the small corner windows, you still feel as though you’re missing part of the action at street corners; the pillars can hide curbs and even other cars depending on the angle. This is a problem that will have to be addressed when the car gets redesigned.
Another thing that needs revising is the car’s sound system. Having a 6-CD changer that reads MP3 files is nice, but the sound quality is average. The radio’s bass level is too high, and the radio reception could be better. And is it really necessary to print a label in capital letters on the top of the radio? “AM/FM RADIO AND CD PLAYER”... Well, duh.
Trunk space is commendable for a car of this Suzuki’s size. Its capacity of 439 litres is second only to the Volkswagen Jetta. What’s ironic is that with the rear seat up, the SX4 hatchback is much less spacious, although it should normally be the other way around. The SX4 Sedan’s extra length (4,490 mm versus 4,115 mm, or about 15 inches) is the main reason for that.
The company’s compact offering is interesting, no doubt. Available in hatchback and sedan configurations, the SX4 tries to please everybody, but especially those who can’t stand conformity.
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| The Suzuki SX4 sedan starts at $17,695. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
It’s obvious that the SX4 is an oddball, with its high stance, huge greenhouse and windowed A-pillars. But all these traits don’t prevent the Suzuki from looking smart, confident and cheery.
Step inside and you’ll notice that there is a massive amount of headroom. In addition, you sit high and get a good view of the road ahead. The driving position isn’t perfect, though, as the steering wheel doesn’t telescope, which would perfectly match the straight-up seating configuration.
Out back, there seems to be a scant amount of foot space, but again, sitting straight means you don’t need as much room for your legs, and there is space under the front seats for your footsies. Okay, it’s still a little tight.
The SX4’s main shortcoming is the wide A-pillars. Despite the small corner windows, you still feel as though you’re missing part of the action at street corners; the pillars can hide curbs and even other cars depending on the angle. This is a problem that will have to be addressed when the car gets redesigned.
Another thing that needs revising is the car’s sound system. Having a 6-CD changer that reads MP3 files is nice, but the sound quality is average. The radio’s bass level is too high, and the radio reception could be better. And is it really necessary to print a label in capital letters on the top of the radio? “AM/FM RADIO AND CD PLAYER”... Well, duh.
Trunk space is commendable for a car of this Suzuki’s size. Its capacity of 439 litres is second only to the Volkswagen Jetta. What’s ironic is that with the rear seat up, the SX4 hatchback is much less spacious, although it should normally be the other way around. The SX4 Sedan’s extra length (4,490 mm versus 4,115 mm, or about 15 inches) is the main reason for that.
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| The SX4’s main shortcoming is the wide A-pillars. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |